RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Federal Highway Administration has
given preliminary approval for Virginia to impose tolls on
Interstate 95 to help fund transportation projects.
Gov. Bob McDonnell said Monday that Federal Highway
Administration Administrator Victor Mendez has given the Virginia
Department of Transportation conditional provisional approval for a
tolling plan the state submitted in January. The tolls would be
imposed under the Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
Pilot Program, which allows three states to impose tolls on
interstate highways.
VDOT estimates the toll program could generate $250 million in
its first five years, and more than $50 million annually in
subsequent years. The revenues would pay for expanding highway
capacity, improving road safety, and reconstructing and
rehabilitating pavement and structures along I-95, one of the
nation's most heavily traveled interstates.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APNP-09-19-11 1221EDT